Right Or Wrong - It’s A Royal Pain…

Monday, January, 26, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

You would think the House of Representatives would have more important issues to tackle.  You would think wrong!  Proving that the Obama lovefest is still in its honeymoon phase, it was two Democrats and two Republicans that penned that poison pen letter to colleagues advising them not to co-sponsor a resolution protecting the radio industry from paying performance royalty fees.  The letter instead asks House members to consider supporting the Performance Rights Act which will be re-introduced during this session of Congress.  The PRA “presents a fair and balanced approach that does not affect establishments and venues, provides major accommodations for small broadcast stations  (75% of all stations) to protect against hardship, and provides outright exemptions for religious and talk radio.  It will not tax or burden broadcasters but rather will establish balance between those who create music and those who play it for the health and future of both industries.”  Cue the violins…

The NAB doesn’t buy the early Valentine’s Day sentiment.  Dennis Wharton answers the letter:  “It is implausible to suggest that a government-imposed bailout of foreign record labels estimated to cost up to $7 billion would not cause serious economic harm to U.S. radio stations.  The media business faces the worst advertising economy in decades and thousands of loyal, hard-working people have lost their jobs in radio the last few months.  If Congress wants to ensure more job losses and put at risk the countless charitable and public-service efforts of local radio stations, passing the performance tax would be the best recipe.”  Cue the violins…

Touch gloves, go to a neutral corner and may the best man win…   

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1784] Take a letter Maria: Benjamin Franklin sends his daughter a letter expressing his unhappiness over the eagle being selected over the turkey as the symbol of America. But Ben, we can’t eat our national symbol every Thanksgiving…
2. 1934] Showtime at the Apollo: The Apollo Theater re-opens in a new location - Harlem on 125th Street and 7th Avenue. It’s still there…
3. 1960] The new commish: Pete Rozelle, 33-year old GM of the Los Angeles Rams succeeds Bert Bell as NFL Commissioner…
4. 1979] “Happy Trails”: Former Vice President and New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller dies of a heart attack at 70. At first report he was alone in his office but it was later determined that he was at home in the presence of his 25-year old female aide who had a Daily News reporter friend call 911 an hour after he had died leading to speculation about the cause of the heart attack (you do the math)…1983] Legendary football coach Bear Bryant dies of a heart attack at 69 just 41 days after his retirement…
5. 1979] Put your dukes up: “The Dukes of Hazzard” premieres and will run until the summer of ‘85 on CBS-TV…
6. 1984] A hunk-a, hunk-a, burning love: Michael Jackson’s hair catches on fire while filming a Pepsi commercial…
7. 1996]  Whitewater rafting:  First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton testifies before a grand jury connected to the Whitewater probe…
8. 1997] Not so super for the Patriots: The Green Bay Packers crush the Pats 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI. There were better days ahead for the Patriots…
9. 1998] Who’s that lady?: Bill Clinton makes his famous, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky” speech…
10. 1999] Crash landings: The NTSB concludes that John Denver’s 1997 fatal light-plane crash was caused by too little fuel in the tank at takeoff…2003] Billy Joel is hospitalized after crashing his car into a tree in Sag Harbor. The NTSB concludes that a bottle of wine is the cause of the crash…

Music Memories:

• 1961] Number One on this date: “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” - Elvis Presley…
• 1970] Written and Recorded on this date: “Instant Karma” - John Lennon…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday“:

Wayne Gretzky (48), Ellen DeGeneres (51), Anita Baker (51), Eddie Van Halen (54), David Strathairn (60), Jean Knight (66), Bob Uecker (74), Huey “Piano” Smith (75), Jules Feiffer (80) and Anne Jeffreys (86)…

Timeline Countdown: 6 days until the Super Bowl, 19 days until Valentine’s Day and pitchers & catchers report to Spring Training voluntarily and 21 days until President’s Day…

Posted in Today's Post | No Comments »